Concept of the Week

Students designed the Chicane concept, a baby version of the über-luxury car

An Entry-Level Maserati

By Stuart Schwartzapfel

For the upcoming 2008 Geneva Motor Show this March, transportation design students at the Istituto Europeo di Design, in Turin, Italy came up with ideas of what an "entry-level" might look like. Seventeen proposals were submitted to a jury including Maserati and Fiat chief designers, who took an active part in the concept's development through repeated assessment and evaluation meetings, and by hosting visits of students to its production sites. The winning design for the Chicane was penned by students Dmytro Zyubyairov and Oscar Palladino; all the students worked to craft a full-scale version of the Chicane.

Like the production Maserati GranTurismo, the Chicane is laid out in a sporty 2+2—or four-seater—fashion. It features a V8 engine and rear-wheel drive. The massive wheels sport trident-shaped spokes, evoking Maserati's logo. Its muscular hood, meanwhile, with bulging fenders on either side, is more reminiscent of a 1970s-era Corvette than an Italian sports car. The massive fenders are also connected by an aggressive character line along the side that starts just below another Maserati-trademark motif, vent-like portholes. Ultimately, the Chicane's mash-up of design influences creates an exciting, sporty concept.

The Verdict: These students deserve a job.

Stuart Schwartzapfel is a regular contributor to BusinessWeek.com. He has studied the automotive marketplace and works as an advertising and marketing strategist for major manufacturers. He does not write about any car brands for which he currently works.

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